JYournal ofNeurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 1996;60:339-341 339 SHORT REPORT A preliminary study into the sensitivity of disease activity detection by serial weekly magnetic resonance imaging in multiple sclerosis M Lai, T Hodgson, M Gawne-Cain, S Webb, D MacManus, W I McDonald, A J Thompson, D H Miller Abstract lesion activity is increased by acquiring Long TR and gadolinium enhanced spin enhanced images in addition to standard long echo brain MRI was performed weekly for TR scans. three months in three patients with Two important questions arising are: (1) relapsing-remitting or secondary pro- does increasing the frequency of MRI detect gressive multiple sclerosis. During the more active lesions, thus improving the sensi- study, 38 new enhancing lesions were tivity of the technique for therapeutic monitor- seen; 11 showed enhancement for less ing; (2) do new lesions appearing on monthly than four weeks, and two enhanced on long TR scans without showing gadolinium only one scan. All 16 new lesions seen on enhancement display enhancement at shorter long TR scans showed initial enhance- intervals-evidence that they do would suggest ment. When only every fourth (monthly) that impairment of the blood-brain barrier is scan was analysed, a total of 33 new an obligatory early event in the development enhancing lesions were seen. Subject to of lesions in multiple sclerosis. To consider confirmation in a larger cohort, the these questions, we have performed weekly results suggest: (a) that blood brain bar- MRI for three months in three patients, one rier leakage is an invariable event in new with relapsing-remitting and two with sec- lesion development in relapsing-remitting ondary progressive multiple sclerosis. and secondary progressive multiple scle- rosis; (b) the small increase in sensitivity of weekly scanning does not justify its use Patients and methods in preference to monthly scanning when PATIENT SELECTION monitoring treatments. The patients chosen had to have clinically def- inite multiple sclerosis14 of the relapsing-remit- (7 Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1996;60:339-341) ting or secondary progressive type56 and had to have gadolinium enhancement on their first scan. These criteria were to increase the possi- Keywords: magnetic resonance imaging; multiple bility of a high yield of new gadolinium sclerosis enhancing lesions during the study.1' Of 11 patients screened only three had enhancing Serial brain MRI at monthly intervals has pro- lesions. Thus eight patients did not continue vided valuable insights into the natural history after their first scan. of multiple sclerosis, and is now often used to monitor the efficacy of experimental treat- MRI PROTOCOL Institute of Neurology, 2 enhanced Queen Square, London ments.' Scanning at this interval often shows Informed consent for gadolinium WC1N 3BG,UK asymptomatic new lesions in relapsing-remit- MRI was obtained from each patient before MLai ting or secondary progressive multiple sclero- the commencement of the study. M Gawne-Cain 10 more was given 0 1 mmol/kg S Webb sis, on average five to times often than Each patient D MacManus clinical relapse.3-'0 About 80% of new lesions gadolinium-DTPA intravenously. The MRI W I McDonald on unenhanced conventional long TR spin protocol was then performed as follows: A J Thompson scans enhancement (on Firstly, three sets of pilot scans were per- D H Miller echo show gadolinium Ti weighted spin echo sequences),5 indicat- formed for the purposes of repositioning. Department of Radiology, Royal ing a breach of the blood-brain barrier. These were a Ti weighted sagittal scan, an Hallamshire Hospital, Gadolinium enhancement correlates with axial scan, and a coronal scan. After this an Glossop Road, pathological features of activity-namely, axial fast spin echo sequence was used to Sheffield S1O 2JF, UK T Hodgson perivascular lymphocyte and macrophage infil- acquire long TR scans through the cerebral 3 12 13 and has hemispheres (TR = 1500 ms, TEf = 32/80 Correspondence to: tration and myelin breakdown, Dr DH Miller, NMR Unit, usually ceased at the next monthly follow up ms, slice number 16, slice thickness 5 mm, Institute of Neurology, 24 matrix 256 x 128). Queen Square, London although the associated long TR abnormality field of view cm, WC1 3BG, UK. persists. Foci of enhancement are also often Gadolinium enhanced Ti weighted images Received 3 July 1995 found in the absence of a definite correspond- were then obtained (TR = 500 ms, TE = 14 and in final revised form 5 24 November 1995 ing change on the long TR images." Thus the ms, slice number 16, slice thickness mm, Accepted 30 November 1995 power of MRI in monitoring the effect of field of view 24 cm, matrix 256 x 128). 340 Lai, Hodgson, Gawne-Cain, Webb, MacManus, McDonald, Thompson, Miller Top row: Tl weighted gadolinium enhanced MRIs. Bottom row: equivalent long TR scan acquired in the same study. The sequences show the development of two lesions (A and B). Lesion A enhancesfor one scan only with changes on the long TR scan one week later. Lesion B continued to enhance on six scans. A new lesion appeared on the long TR scan simultaneously with the enhancement. Thirteen weekly studies were performed with EDSS was 6. Further decline was observed the above protocol on each patient. Lesion during the study and the final EDSS was 7. activity was reported from hard copies by two Patient 3 (aged 40 years) had secondary radiologists (TH, MG-C). progressive multiple sclerosis. The initial EDSS was 7. She had no further decline during the study. Results CLINICAL DATA MRI DATA Patient 1 (aged 38 years) had relapsing-remit- The weekly gadolinium enhanced scans were ting multiple sclerosis. At the start of the study reviewed first. During follow up, 38 new her expanded disability status scale (EDSS)'5 enhancing lesions appeared. Thirteen were score was 6. She had one mild relapse in the still enhancing on the final scan. Of these 13, fourth week of the study. At the end of the enhancement was present on six scans in one study her EDSS score was still 6. lesion, five scans in two, four scans in three, Patient 2 (aged 35 years) had secondary three scans in one, two scans in three, and the progressive multiple sclerosis. The initial final scan only in three. Of the 25 new enhancing lesions which could be followed up from the beginning to Duration of enhancement of the 25 lesions in which enhancement could befollowedfrom the end of enhancement, 11 (44%) enhanced the beginning to the end for less than one month (on three scans or Week ofstudy less). Two lesions enhanced on just one scan 8 9 10 11 12 13 (figure). Lesion number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 To compare the sensitivity of weekly and 1 x x x x x x monthly scanning, the first, fifth, ninth, and 2 x x x x x 3 x x x x x 13th scans were considered to be the monthly 4 x x x for this study. These scans showed 33 5 x x x x x scans 6 x x x new enhancing lesions. Thus monthly scan- 7 x x x x x x ning would have missed only five of 38 (13%) 8 x x x x x x x 9 x x x new enhancing lesions detected on weekly 10 x x x x x x x scans (see table: lesions 6, 12, 14, 24, and 25). 11 x x x x x x 12 x x x The weekly proton density and T2 weighted 13 x x x x x (long TR) scans were then reviewed without 14 x x 15 x x reference to the enhanced images. A total of 16 x x x x 16 new lesions was seen. The images were 17 x x x x x 18 x x x x x x x x x x then compared with the weekly enhanced 19 x x x x x x x scans, and it was apparent that all the new 20 x 21 x x x lesions on long TR scans displayed gadolinium 22 x x x x enhancement at their first appearance. 23 x x x 24 x However, two of the new lesions on long TR 25 x x x were no longer enhancing on the next Weeks 1, 5, 9, and 13 are shaded and simulate the analysis points of the "monthly" scans. An "monthly" scan. Thus monthly scanning " x " indicates the presence of enhancement of a lesion. Thus at the monthly time points the showed 35 new lesions, 33 enhancing and two enhancement of lesions 6, 12, 14, 24, and 25 would have been missed. However, lesions 12 and 24 could be clearly seen as new lesions on the long TR scan. not (see table: lesions 12 and 24), whereas A preliminary study into the sensitivity ofdisease activity detection by serial weekly magnetic resonance imaging in multiple sclerosis 341 weekly scanning showed 38 new lesions, all An alternative explanation is that there is a low enhancing. grade leak to the blood-brain barrier which is not detectable using standard doses of contrast. Pathologically, low grade inflammation is Discussion indeed seen in primary progressive multiple This study of three patients with relapsing- sclerosis'7 and a recent study using a higher remitting (one patient) or secondary progres- dose of contrast agent (03 mmol/kg Gd- sive (two patients) multiple sclerosis was DTPA) has disclosed a substantial increase in intended to compare the sensitivity of weekly the number of enhancing lesions.'9 versus monthly brain MRI in detecting active The role of the blood-brain barrier in the lesions in multiple sclerosis, and to elucidate development of new lesions and its relation to the consistency with which leakage of the the patient's clinical state are important issues blood-brain barrier occurs in the initial stages which need to be considered.